Felt is
clearly a film made to inspire a reaction in its viewers, intentionally graphic
and shocking in place of any actual work from the filmmakers. Sometimes these
guttural reactions are enough to make a film memorable, but everything about
this dark mumblecore thriller/drama is derivative to the point of being
completely predictable, despite a minimalist approach to storytelling. The
entire film feels hinged upon one inevitable climactic moment, which doesn’t
feel earned or even appropriate for the rest of the film that director Jason
Banker has given us. Nothing is earned, including the emotions of the audience.
If you don’t develop a screenplay that provides character and story, there is
nothing to become invested in prior to the exploitative final moments.
Thoughtful themes treated lazily end up becoming trashy moments of unearned
melodrama.

What is there to say about “The Walking Dead”
that hasn’t already been said. This cultural television phenomenon arrived with
the successful revival of the zombie horror film, though it has outlasted the
peak popularity of its cinematic counterpart. The post-apocalyptic television
show has becomes something much more than just the usual horror trope,
elevating the genre to something deeply profound and emotionally resonate. Not
only is this series far better than nearly every zombie film in recent years,
it is easily one of the best shows on television.

Wolf
Warrior is the Chinese equivalent of the American military action film, Act of Valor; it is well shot, filled
with exciting action, with a plot so simplistic it is nearly nonexistent, and a
tone so patriotic that it borders on propaganda. If you can excuse the
silliness of the story or the transparency of the movie’s national pride, there
is still some above average action to enjoy. In fact, I would say that this is
one of the more exciting Chinese action films I have seen recently, though the
emphasis remains on firepower rather than martial arts.

Lost
after Dark is not only a slasher film with a plot resembling the popular
horror sub-genre of the 1980s, it aspires to be mistaken as one of these
forgotten B-films. The narrative takes place in the ‘80s, but more importantly
is the faux grindhouse style that attempts to recreate the look of a slasher
seen at the drive-in. This means intentional screen static, scenes missing, and
a series of practical effects. While the film is never less than entertaining,
there is not enough commitment to this idea for Lost After Dark to feel like a success. Large sections of the film
seem to completely forget about the faux grindhouse style, and overall it just
feels like a watered down attempt at doing was already accomplished by Quentin
Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez with their double-feature film, Grindhouse.